THE AMERICA ONE NEWS
Jun 6, 2025  |  
0
 | Remer,MN
Sponsor:  QWIKET 
Sponsor:  QWIKET 
Sponsor:  QWIKET: Elevate your fantasy game! Interactive Sports Knowledge.
Sponsor:  QWIKET: Elevate your fantasy game! Interactive Sports Knowledge and Reasoning Support for Fantasy Sports and Betting Enthusiasts.
back  
topic
Huffington Post
HuffPost
8 Jan 2025


NextImg:Key Democrat Still Has Questions For Tulsi Gabbard After Meeting Over Intelligence Post
LOADINGERROR LOADING

Senate Democrats are moving to delay confirmation hearings for some of President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet picks, namely his choice for national intelligence director, former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard.

Sen. Mark Warner (Va.), the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, told reporters Tuesday he still has questions about Gabbard’s qualifications after meeting with her this week. Trump tapped the former Hawaii lawmaker for the key intelligence post in November after she diligently campaigned on his behalf and joined the Republican Party in a show of faith.

But intelligence officials have questioned her qualifications, noting she has never worked directly in the field. (She did serve for two years on the House Homeland Security Committee.) Gabbard has also been criticized for spreading Russian propaganda and for her decision to meet with then-dictator Bashar Assad of Syria in 2017.

“I had questions going in,” Warner told reporters on Tuesday, per The Hill. “I have questions coming out. This is an extraordinarily important job. A lot of this … also about protecting the independence of the intelligence community and making sure we continue to have the ability to share classified information with our allies.”

Former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard leaves a meeting with Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) on Dec. 18 in Washington, D.C.
Former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard leaves a meeting with Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) on Dec. 18 in Washington, D.C.
Kevin Dietsch via Getty Images

Axios added a key issue for Warner is that the committee doesn’t yet have Gabbard’s FBI background check, ethics disclosure or pre-hearing questionnaire. CNN noted the senator wasn’t directly criticizing Gabbard’s fitness for the job, but said he was working to “do it by the book.”

Still, Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), the chair of the Intelligence Committee, attacked Democrats and accused them of delay tactics, saying he intends to move forward with haste to see Gabbard confirmed before Trump’s inauguration later this month.

The Countdown To Trump Is On

On Jan. 20, Donald Trump will reclaim the most powerful seat in our nation's government. HuffPost will continue to fearlessly report on the new administration — but we need your help.

We believe vital information during this unprecedented time should be free for everyone. With your support, we can provide critical news without paywalls.

You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again. We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you.

Whether you give once or many more times, we appreciate your contribution to keeping our journalism free for all.

You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest — we could use your help again. We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you.

Whether you give just one more time or sign up again to contribute regularly, we appreciate you playing a part in keeping our journalism free for all.

Support HuffPost

“The Intelligence Committee, the nominees, and the transition are diligently working toward that goal,” a spokesperson for Cotton told Axios. “After the terrorist attacks on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, it’s sad to see Sen. Warner and Democrats playing politics with Americans’ safety and our national security.”

It’s unclear when exactly a hearing will take place. But Gabbard already has an active security clearance, meaning the nomination process should be expedited once it begins.